MiFi

Novatel Wireless has won the 2011 CTIA Emerging Technology Awards under the Mobile Consumer Electronics Accessories category for its 4G MiFi Intelligent Hotspots, the LTE MiFi 4510 and the WiMAX MiFi 4082. The MiFi devices create a mobile hotspot that allows up to five different devices to connect and are about the size of a credit card.

Novatel Wireless has clinched DLNA certification for the MiFi 2372, turning the portable 3G hotspot into a mini media server. A new app running on the MiFi OS - the hotspot's own operating system - the DLNA Server functionality can share content stored on a microSD card to nearby smartphones, notebooks and WiFi-compatible HDTVs.

It's taken AT&T long enough to push a MiFi mobile hotspot out of the door, but finally the AT&T Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 is available. As with the original MiFi units, the premise is straightforward: take one 3G connection and share it between a number of WiFi devices. Still, with 4G mobile hotspots on the market, and many smartphones offering integrated hotspot functionality, is the AT&T MiFi 2372 too late? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

That's right, the Novatel Wireless 4G MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot has won not only a Best in Show Award from Notebooks.com in the notebook accessories category, it's also been recently awarded both the World Communication and Mobile Star awards. These additional awards are the 2010 World Communication Award (WCA) for Best Mobile Device Strategy and the Mobile Village Mobile Star Award for Best Laptop or Tablet Accessory. It's hard to believe that such an integral piece of technology was created such a short period ago - well done, chaps!

Virgin Mobile has announced that it will be throttling its $40 unlimited MiFi data plan as of February 15, allowing users 5GB of regular data access but after that limiting the available bandwidth until the end of the month. Spotted by David Pogue, the change appears to be a recognition by Virgin Mobile that, if you offer truly unlimited data, some users are going to hammer your network.

Sprint’s push into 4G is very apparent for the 2011 calendar year. Their ultra-fast network is being utilized by devices such as the EVO and in 2011 we will see not only the EVO Shift 4G but also the new 3G/4G MiFi by Novatel Wireless.

Sprint has officially announced the HTC EVO Shift 4G, as well as the carrier's MiFi 3G/4G mobile hotspot by Novatel Wireless. The HTC EVO Shift 4G will land on January 9 2011, priced at $149.99, while the 4G-capable MiFi hotspot will follow on February 27 for $49.99.

T-Mobile USA is readying its first mobile hotspot, and the debut device will apparently support the high-speed HSPA+ 4G service offered by the network. One of two MiFi-style devices for the first half of 2011, the first model - codenamed "Lil Wayne" - is expected to arrive in February 2011 according to TmoNews' sources and support up to 21Mbps downloads.

Best Buy is offering iPad buyers a "free" mobile hotspot to get online with the WiFi-only version of the Apple tablet. The deal, spotted by 9to5Mac, includes Verizon's FiveSpot, AT&T's MiFi 2372 or Sprint's 4G OverDrive, though each does require a new, two-year agreement.

Novatel Wireless has been promising WiMAX-capable MiFi mobile hotspots since February this year, but it's taken until now for the 4G device to show up in any form. Fresh through the FCC is the Novatel MiFi 4082, complete with CDMA/EVDO and WiMAX connectivity that can be shared out over a WiFi connection.